If you don’t know who celebrity stylist Karla Welch is, you definitely know her work. Welch is the mastermind behind the most stunning fashion moments turned out by your favorite stars, including everyone from Tracee Ellis Ross to Olivia Wilde to Justin Bieber. Translation: you have a lot to thank her for. Welch is a powerhouse both on and off the red carpet, too. Beyond making history by introducing the world to the scumbro aesthetic, the Canadian-born stylist engages her audience with political and environmental activism, co-founded the environmentally-conscious Period Company, and, in 2019, launched Wishi, a fashion app that connects users to real stylists, including Welch herself. That way, you can tell your friends that you share the same stylist with Hailey Bieber. No big deal.
To kick off the holidays, Wishi launched a wish list curated by Welch, but we asked her to cut ELLE.com an even better deal: We chatted with her about the thing she really wants this year, what she’d gift to her friends (and clients Ross and Wilde), and more, below.
What are you most excited for during the holidays?
Rest and time with my family! For obvious reasons.
What is your favorite memory of opening a gift?
I always was most excited to see my stocking—Santa always made amazing ones!
What is your gift-giving strategy? Are you meticulously going through lists or do you shop last-minute? Do you have a budget? Are you consciously shopping certain brands and designers?
I’m all of these things! I try to think about what the person loves and then sometimes go overboard. I am so fortunate that I receive gifts all year long, so I love to spoil my family.
What is the #1 thing on your personal wish list?
Rest.
You have $50 to give something to your best friend. What is it?
A donation to her favorite organization.
You walk into Target. What are you buying to gift?
Socks, PJs, or toys.
A lot of your celebrity clients seemingly have it all. If you had $30 to gift something to Olivia Wilde or Tracee Ellis Ross, what would you buy?
I’d buy our Period community bundles in their name. Twenty dollars gives someone period abundance!
What is a generic, but great gift you keep on deck?
Candles from Harlem Candle Company.
